NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Officials don’t want people to become alarmed if they see a large police presence in northern New Jersey.

State troopers and emergency responders will be conducting drills throughout Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Passaic, Morris, Union and Middlesex counties until Friday.

The state’s Emergency Management Office says the drills are designed to test responders in New Jersey’s Urban Area Security Initiative region as part of the ongoing commitment to the Secure the Cities Initiative.

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